Parking inspectors in Amsterdam will permanently stop using scan cars to detect stolen vehicles due to privacy concerns. The municipality concluded that using data collected for parking enforcement to find stolen cars breaches privacy regulations.
Previously, scan cars were employed to read license plates for parking control. The scanned data was shared with the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) to identify stolen vehicles. If a stolen car was detected, the RDW notified the police, leading to the recovery of about 90 vehicles in 2021 and 2022.
Despite initial assurances that the practice complied with privacy laws, criticisms arose over the use of personal data for unintended purposes and the sharing of data between government agencies. An external investigation found no alternative methods without legal risks, prompting the decision to cease the practice entirely.
Alderman Melanie van der Horst acknowledged that this outcome is unfortunate for victims of car theft.
Source: NOS News